Earth moving device



April 23, 1940. E. w. AUSTIN EARTH movme DEVICE Filed July 25, 1938 INVENTOR. [@QuaZ/Z,

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ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES EARTH MOVING DEVICE Ellsworth W. Austin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as-. signor to La Plant-Choate Manufacturing Company, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application July 25, 1938, Serial No. 221,108

7 Claims.

One object of my invention is to provide an earth moving device or the like having a main u frame which is comparatively simple and also inexpensive from a manufacturing standpoint,

yet which secures a number of desirable results. Another object is to provide a frame for an earth moving device of the type having a blade or other earth handling element for engaging and moving earth upon movement of a tractor on which the blade and frame are mounted, which frame shall permit the blade to be mounted in close relation to the front end of the tractor.

Still another object is to provide a main frame which is so constructed that it is rigid to impact 5 so that a blade carried thereby may be effectively used to push earth or the like ahead of the tractor.

Still a further object is to provide such a main frame havinga rugged pivoting means for the blade relative to'the frame whereby the lateral inclination of the blade may be readily changed a as may be necessary for conforming to the transverse slope of the road or other surface being operated upon by the device. An additional object is to provide a construc tion for such a main frame whichis particularly adaptable for assembly by welding processes.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more 'fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial side elevationshowing the front portion of a Caterpillar type of tractor and a main frame structure embodying my invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the main frame and scale.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1, showing the details of the pivot mounting at the front of my frame, whereby lateral inclination of the blade or other earth moving device is permitted; and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

On the accompanying drawing I have introduced the reference character T to indicate generally a tractor. The tractor T is illustrated as having a track frame Hi, there being such a frame on each side of the tractor. To the track frame Hi on each side of the tractor is attached a bracket I2.

55 The main frame of my device is of generally U-shaped form as will be seen from the plan view in Figure 2, wherein is shown only about the front one-third of the frame. The extremities of the U are mounted in the brackets l2 by earth moving blade of my device on a reduced means of pivot pins [4. The main frame consists of side portions i6 formed in rectangular box sections as illustrated in Figure 4, preferably by welding two channels together face to face. The frame is continued forwardly and toward .5 the center by angular portions indicated gen erally at Ill. The angular portions l6 are connected at the front by a central portion 20.

The outer ends of the portions 13 are indicated as corners 28; 30, 34 and 40 (see Figure 1) 10 and their inner ends by corners 24-, 26, 36 and 36. Each portion l8 comprises a top section 22,

a rear section 32, a bottom section 42 and a front section 44. The top section 22 is bounded substantially by the straight lines joining the cor- 15 ners 24, ,26, 28 and 36. 'The rear section 32 is substantially bounded by the lines joining the corners 26, 28, 34 and 36. The bottom section 42 is substantially bounded by the straight lines joining the corners 34,36,38 and 40 and the go frontsection 44 may be formed as a plate substantially lying in the surface bounded by the corners 30, 24, 38 and 40. I have shown the upper edge of this plate continued upwardly beyond a line between corners 24 and 30 in the form of a guard plate or apron portion 46. The portion 46 protects the radiator R and other front portions of the tractor T from any dirt or boulders which may spill over the earth moving blade indicated generally as 48. 30

It will be noted that the structure of the portion l'8 which I have described aboveresults in a cross section which varies from one-which is horizontally wide and vertically relatively thin at the rear, to one which is horizontally thin and 35 vertically relativelyvhigh at the front end.

The front ends of the portions l8 represented by the corners, 26, 36 and 38 are connected by the central portion 20 which is similarly transversely thin and vertically high and represented by the same corners 24, 26, 36 and 38. In the drawing I have shown it as including a shallow transverse channel member 50. In actual construction of my frame, the front walls 44 of the portions l8 are continued to form the front wall of the portion 20, the channel being welded thereto to form a box section elongated vertically. The front wallof the portion 26 pointed out above has a continuation of the sections 46 which I have designated as 54. To the front surface of the member 54 Iweld ears 56 formed of angle m iron and perforated to permit passage of the king pin 66, by which the blade 48 ismounted on the frame. To provide reenforcement of. the central portion 20 of the U-fram.e against the forces exerted through the ears 56 when the device is in operation I weld the angle portions 52 into the portion 2 .6 as indicated in Figure 1.

On each vtrack frame of the tractor-T may be mounted. a hydraulic cylinder 62 pivotally supw ported in a yoke 83 as at 84. The piston rod 88 thereof may be connected by a pivot at 88 to a member such as 18 which is welded to the top and rear section 22 and 32 of the frame portion I8 and more firmly secured thereto by an angle reenforcement I2. By suitable operation of the hydraulic cylinder 82 the whole U-shaped frame assembly together with the blade 48 mounted thereon may be raised or lowered, pivoting on the axis I4. Suitable skids such as 14 may be provided to limit the downward movement of the frame by contact with the ground surface.

In Figure 2 I have shown the blade 48 in a position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tractor T on which the device is mounted. However it is frequently desirable, in the operation of an earth moving machine, to deflect the earth to one side or the other of the machine and this is commonly done by slanting the blade somewhat. In my construe- 'tion I pr'ovide at the outer end of the blade pivot brackets 78 to which are pivotally attached push bars I8 which serve as a thrust connection between the side frame portions I8 and the ends of the blade. The push bars I8 are channel shaped in cross section to partially enclose the side frame I8. The skids I4 are preferably mounted on the push bars l8. Brackets 88 are mounted on the ends of the push bars I8 for connection to the side frame portions I8 and are connected therewith by removable pins 82. The side frame elements have a plurality of sleevelike. perforations 88, 85, 88, BI and 88 to selectively receive the pins 82.

In Figure 2 the blade 88 is shown adjusted for v a bulldozing operation, i. e., for moving earth straight ahead in front of the machine. This adjustment is made. by locating the blade in position with the pins 82 in the perforations 81 and 88. For deflecting the earth being moved toward the right the pins would be passed through the brackets 88 and through the perforations 85 and 88. A corresponding arrangement may be made for deflecting the earth' toward the left.

In order that the outer ends of the blade 48 guided by the skids E4 on the push bars 181 may conform to moderate variations in the transverse level of the surface being worked upon, it is desirable that the center mounting of the blade to the frame portion 28 should permit some degree of pivoting about a horizontal axis longitudinally of the tractor. To accomplish this desirable result I have devised a particularly suitable means for mounting the blade.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the novel mounting by which the pivoting above described is made possible. Supported -on the frame portion 28 by the king pin 88 is an intermediate mounting assembly composed of the plate I88, the collar 98 and the angle shaped mounting ears I84. The mounting ears have perforations I 88 to receive the king pin 88 which passes also through similar perforations in the cars 58 on the main frame. The ears I84 are attached to the plate I88, preferably by welding. The plate I88 has a circular opening I8I .centrally located therein, and a collar 98 is located in this opening, and firmly welded to the plate I88.

In Figures 1 and 3 the blade proper is indicated by the numeral 48. 98-designates an additional reenforcing plate used on the rearv surface of the blade. At the central portion of the blade in the region of attachment to the main frame an additional reenforcing plate 92 is welded to the blade structure. At the center of this plate is a circular opening 94 in which a short tube 98 is secured by welding. The blade structure is supported on the intermediate mounting assembly by the tube 98, a partof the blade structure, which passes through the collar 98 of the intermediate mounting assembly and. is kept in position therein by angle shaped retainer clips I82 which are welded to the inside of the tube 98 and which extend out over the collar 98, preventing the latter from slipping off the tube 98. It will be seen that the blade structure can be rotated with re spect to the intermediate mounting assembly about the common axis of the tube 98 and the collar 98, that axis being coincident in Figure 1 with the section line 3-3. Only a small degree of such rotational freedom is ordinarily necessary. To limit such freedom and to further serve as a retainer in addition'to the clips I82 to keep the plate I88 and the plate 92 in close coacting 'relation, straps I88 are welded to the member 98 and formed to overlap the upper edge of the plate I88 and the vertical flanges of the ear members Direct forward thrusts are transmitted from the blade structure to the intermediate mounting assembly through the coacting surfaces of the plates 92 and I88. These are broad, fiat surfaces, little subject to wear and deformation by overstress.

For a number of reasons it is desirable to have the scraper or pusher blade located as close to the front of the tractor as is practically possible. The most obvious reason is that when the blade is in angling position, to divert earth toward. one side of the path of movement of the tractor, the greater the distance of the blade from the tractor,- the greater is the tendency to throw the tractor off of the desired line of movement, particularly with Caterpillar type tractors. This increases the difficulty of operation and increases wear on the steering mechanism of the tractor.

Hence I believe that my construction which allows a very close coupled mounting of the blade by reason of the thinness of the central portion 28 of the main frame has very real advantages in apron such as 88 both a functional and feasible part of the frame. Though progressively varying in cross sectional shape, the angular portion I8 connects smoothly with the thin central portion 28 but as can be seen from the plan view of Figure 2, the generally triangular shape has a rather wide base on the line joining the corners 28 and 98 so that the forces exerted by the angular members I8 are transmitted to the side members I8 without setting up undue stresses on the lines where the portions I8 join the portions I8.

A frame of this type also must withstand forces tending to distort it from its rectangular form, that is, the side thrusts occurring particularly when the blade is in angling position, and also when there is a direct thrust against the blade when adjusted for bull-dozing operations tending to spread or distort the side members from par allel with the longitudinal axis of the tractor.

The connection of the angular portions l8 to the side portions l6 wherein the plane dimensions, 1. e., horizontal dimensions as from corner 28 to corner 30 are relatively great give the strength desired to overcome such distorting forces.

In the structure detailed in Figure 3 I have provided swivel means which permits a large surface of engagement by the swiveling members for transmitting the direction thrusts. This engagement occurs principally on the line between the plates 92 and lllll. The area is so extensive that very little wear occurs because the forces are distributed thereover and the very great thrust forces are not exerted directly through the pivot or swivel means proper. For the swivel means itself the use of the tube and collar arrangement give also a relatively large surface of engagement in a structure which can be made from regular mill shapes assembled by welding without any expensive machine operations.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device with-- out departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thrust frame for mounting an earth moving blade on a tractor comprising side arms and across member, said cross member comprising forwardly converging portions of tubular cross section, such cross section progressing from a shape relatively wide horizontally and narrow vertically at said side arms to a shape relatively wide vertically and narrow horizontally at the earth moving blade, and swivel means for mounting said blade on said thrust frame comprising a perforated thrust plate adjacent the back of the blade, a tubular extension from the blade through the perforation of said thrust plate, a collar rotatable on said tubular extension and welded to said thrust plate, angle-shaped clips each having one leg welded in said tubular extension and its other leg extending across the edge of the collar to prevent removal of the collar from the tubular extension, and means for mounting said thrust plate and collar on said thrust frame.

2. Means for mounting an earth moving blade on a tractor comprising a U-shaped frame, and swivel means for mounting the blade on said U-shaped frame comprising a perforated thrust. plate against the back of the blade, a tubular extension from the blade through the perforation of said thrust plate, a collar rotatable; on said tubular extension and connected to said thrust plate, angle-shaped clips each having one leg welded in said tubular extension and its other leg extending across the edge of the collar to prevent removal of the collar from the tubular extension, and means for mounting said thrust plate and collar on said U-shaped frame.

3. Means for mounting an earth moving blade on a tractor comprising a U-shaped frame, and swivel means for mounting said blade on said U-shaped frame comprising a perforated thrust plate against the back of the blade, a tubular extension from the blade through the perforation of said thrust plate, a collar rotatable on said tubular extension and welded, to said thrust plate, retainer means on said extension engageable with said collar, and means for mounting said thrust plate and collar on said U-shaped frame for pivoting about a vertical axis with respect to said frame.

4.1m an earth moving device, a u shaped frame adapted for attachment to a tractor, an earth moving blade supported by said frame at the front end thereof for earth moving operations upon being propelled by said tracter, and swivel means for mounting said blade on said U-shaped' frame comprising a perforated thrust plate against the back of the blade, a tubular extension from the blade through the perforation of said thrust plate, a collar welded to said thrust plate, angle-shaped clips each having one leg welded in said tubular extension and its other leg extending across the edge of the collar to prevent removal of the collar from the tubular extension, and means for mounting said thrust plate and collar on said U-shaped frame.

5. In an earth moving device, a yoke-shaped frame adapted for attachment to a tractor, an earth moving element supported by said frame at the front end of the tractor for earth moving operations upon forward movement of the tractor and universal swivel means for mounting said earth moving element on said frame comprising a perforated thrust plate against the back of the element, a tubular extension from the element through the perforation of said thrust plate, a collar welded to'said thrust plate and rotatable on said tubular extension, means to prevent removal of said collar from said tubular extension and means for mounting said thrust plate and collar on said yoke-shaped frame, said means permitting said thrust plate to pivot about a vertical axis with respect to said frame.

6. Means for universal swivel mounting of an earth moving blade on a tractor thrust frame comprising a cylindrical member fixed to and projecting rearwardly from said blade, a thrust plate bearing against the rear of said blade, a

' perforation in said plate, said cylindrical member extending through said perforation, a collar fixed to said plate and surrounding said perforation, retainer means on said cylindrical member extending over said collar, mounting ears on said thrust plate, a king pin extending through said mounting ears, and means on said thrust frame for supporting said king pin whereby said blade and said plate are rotatable about said king pin with respect to said frame.

7. A thrust frame for mounting an earth moving blade on a tractor, comprising a U-shaped frame, and universal swivel meansfor mounting said blade on said U-shaped frame comprising a perforated thrust plate against the back of the blade, a tubular extension from the blade through. the perforation of said thrustv plate, a collar welded to said plate around said perforation, means adapted to retain said extension within said collar, said blade and said extension being rotatable about, a horizontal axis with refer= ence to said plate and said collar, a kingpin, means on said plate for engaging said king pin, and means on said frame for supporting said king pin, said blade and said plate being rotatable with reference to said frame about said king pin.

' ELLSWORTH W. AUSTIN. 

